Rana Sanaullah reinstated as Punjab law minister

Punjab Governor Rafique Rajwana administered the oath of office to the newly sworn-in law minister.

LAHORE: Days after the Model Town joint investigation team (JIT) gave him a ‘clean-chit’ for his alleged involvement in the incident; Rana Sanaullah took oath as the Punjab law minister on Friday at the Governor House in Punjab.

Punjab Governor Rafique Rajwana administered the oath to the newly sworn-in law minister.

Meanwhile, Dr Aisha Ghaus Pasha also took oath as the provincial finance minister.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif along with other high level provincial dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

Rana was forced to resign from ministry in the wake of last year's Model Town tragedy during which at least 14 Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) workers were killed and over a 100 people injured after clashes with Punjab Police.

Read: Model Town tragedy: JIT grants ‘clean chit’ to PM, CM Shahbaz

After the first inquiry team was rejected by the leadership of PAT, a new five-member JIT was formed, headed by CCPO Quetta Abdul Razzaq Cheema, AIG Discipline at CPO SSP Shehzad Akbar, DSP CIA Khalid Abubakar and one official each from the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), Intelligence Bureau (IB).

The JIT’s report stated Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Punjab chief minister other federal ministers, including the officers of DIG- and CCPO-level were not involved in the incident.

However, it added SP Security Salman Khan was present with the police officers at the time of the incident. When PAT workers pelted stones as well as patrol bombs on the police, it was SP Salman who ordered the firing, and had fired bullets himself as well.